Motor-vehicle battery switch



R. E. WALTAMATH Filed Feb. 14. 1925 MOTOR VEHICLE BATTERY SWITCH July 6 1926.

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BAYHOND E. WALTAIATH, F ATWATEB, CALIFORNIA.

IoTon-vnniomc nATTEnY SWITCH.

Application led February 14V, 1925. Serial Io. 9,121.

This invention relates to improvements in switches to be used in connection with the wiring systems of motor vehicles, my principal object being to provide a master switch,

vI independent of the individual starting, lighting and ignition switches, so constructed that when properly located on the vehicle it will automatically throw or open itself when the vehicle to which it Yis attached is unduly or too suddenly halted in its travel. Such would occur for instance whenever the vehicle collides with another one or runs up against a sidewalk curb, a pole, or some other rigid obstruction is accidently encounter This functioning of the switch therefore causes the engine of the car to be immerhately stopped, regardless of whether or not the driver retains presence of mind enough to throw out the clutch or otherwise acts to stop the forward driving of the car. Thus the danger of disaster when the above contingencies take place are at least lessened.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the switch so that it may be easily thrown o by a kick of either footV of the driver, should he desire to do so at any time, and it may also be again closed by foot pressure.

I have also provided a simple means for enabling the switch to be locked in its open position when desired.

A further objectiof the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be ex ly effectiveeor the purpose for which 1t is des1 ese objects I accomplish 'by mans of such structure and relative arrangement of .parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specilcation and claim.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

switch showing the switch parts in. closed positionand with the adjacent face of the casing removed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the switch o pen. '50 Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a rectangular casing 1n fo a complete enclosure. Di d vewy spaced relation in one eldoithe casing is a pair of contact pads 2, having stems 3 which project through and outwardly ofthe casing to form binding or terminal posts for connection to the separated ends of a main battery cable 4. Suitable insulation pads 5 are placed between the contacts, their stems and the casing to prevent short circuiting therebetween.

Slidably mounted in the/casing and guided between the sides and top and bottom thereof is a slide member 6 positioned near the pads 2 and having on the face thereof adjacent said pads a sheet of insulation material 7. Fixed on said sheet is a conductor element 8, in the form of a strip ofspring metal secured at its middle to the sheet 7 and with the ends free. -This strip has convex horizontal bows 9 on bothsides of the central connection adapted to yieldably en,`

.gage the contact pads 2 when the slide is g moved theretoward. Extending between and connected to the slide 6 and the opposite end ofthe casing is a toggle joint lever structure 10 to whose central pivotal pin 11 is flexibly connected for limited universal movement the handle 12. This handle procaslng, said slot being vparallel to the pin 11. A heavy knob 14, made of lead or similar weighty material is secured on' theuper end of the handle.`

A. tension spring 15 extends between the t0 le structure 10 and the top of the casing, ten to double said structure up and thus move t e slide and conductor 8 away from the contact pads 2.

The slot 13 is but slightly longer than the width of the handle and to limit the upward movement of the handle when the spring acts -as above stated, said handle has projections 16 adaptedV to abut against the-under face of the top of the casing at the ends of the slot when the handle is raised to apredetermined desired limit.

When the handle is in such position, an orifice 17 in the handle is then just above the casin nary adlY in sai handle is at the same time just below the top of the casing to receive the tongue jects up through a slot 13 in the top of the A to receive the shank of an ordiocktherethrough, while a slot 18 19 of a lock mechanism 2O of suitable character which is mounted on the casing adja-- cent the handle.

Either one or the other of said lookin means may be employed and when so locke the handle cannot be depressed t0 move the slide in a manner to engage the contacts and thus close the switch. l

The handle in one edge'l near the to has a notch 21 of suitable form whose lbwer edge, when the handle is depressed, -is adaptedto passunder the top of the'casing at one end of the slot 13 when said handle is give-n a lateral movement in that direction in addition to the vertical and switch closin movement.

o cause the switch to operate roperly the casingv -is'mounted on the door o the car just against the forward-end of the front seat Within reach of the drivers' feet and so that the notch 21 faces rearward1y,and with the'slot 13 in fore and aft alinement.'

It will therefore be seen that a sudden halt of the forward movement of the vehicle, as when conditions are encountered such as i set forth in thepreamble, will cause the natural momentum of the heavy knob 14 to continueto move forwardly, moving the notch ,21 out of engagement with the casing.

cure by Letters of the feet 1,591,149l y t of the driver the latter may kick o en the `switch by a backward movement o either foot at any time he may desire.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a de vice as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as Set forth herein.

While this s eciiication sets forth 'in detail the present an preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from, f

such detail may be resorted to as do not formv a departure from the splrit of the invention,

as deiined by the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what lclaim as new anduseful and desire-to ser Patent is:

A switch including stationary and .m0v-

able contact members, spring means tending?,l

to hold said members separated, a'casing 1n which said members are mounted, a handle projectin from the casing and operatively connecte to the movable memberto enable the same to be engaged with the stationary member` by a manual manipulation of the handle, disengageable catch means arranged to then movement, and a weight on the outer end of the handle for causing the latter vto become disengaged with the catch means when'a shock is imparted to the casingfrom a certain direction. A x

In testmon whereof I aiiix my signature.'

- RA OND E. WALTAMATH.

hold the handle against retractlve .l 

